Standards of Dress and Appearance Policy

The following guidelines help the student determine what is appropriate to wear to class, as not all casual clothing is suitable for the PA program classroom. For example, clothing that works well for the beach, yard work, dance clubs, exercise sessions, and sports contests is inappropriate for a professional classroom appearance. Please reference the link below for additional information. Further clarification about professional business attire should be directed to a faculty member or Department Director.

GENERAL GUIDELINES

  • Clothing should not be wrinkled.
  • Torn, dirty, or frayed clothing is unacceptable.
  • All seams must be finished.
  • Any clothing with words, terms, or pictures that may be offensive and/or create a hostile environment for other students is unacceptable.
  • All skirt or dress lengths must be no shorter than 2-inches above the knee.
  • Hair must be kept clean and styled neatly.
  • Hair color should resemble a color that is natural in appearance.
  • Long hair must be pulled back and secured in all clinical exercises, SCPEs, and sterile environments.
  • Leggings are permitted IF worn with a long dress.
  • NOTE: GWU PA Studies scrubs/sweatshirts are appropriate attire for the classroom and are mandatory for all skills labs unless directed otherwise by the course director or module coordinator. Students will be directed to wear attire appropriate for physical exam practice (e.g., required shorts/t-shirts/sports bras) when necessary.

INAPPROPRIATE ATTIRE FOR THE PA CLASSROOM INCLUDES BUT IS NOT LIMITED TO THE FOLLOWING:

  • Pants: cargo pants, jeans, sweatpants, exercise pants, bib overalls, shorts, biking clothing, or other form- fitting items.
  • Dresses/Skirts: short, tight mini-skirts, skorts, sundresses, beach dresses, spaghetti-strap dresses.
  • Tops: tank tops, midriffs, halter-tops, or any top that reveals excessive cleavage, back, chest, stomach, or undergarments; tops with potentially offensive words, terms, logos, pictures, cartoons, or slogans.
  • Headwear: ball caps or hats of any kind.
  • Footwear: flip-flops, slippers.

OTHER GUIDELINES

  • Absolutely NO open-toed shoes are allowed for Skills/Labs/OSCEs.
  • Fragrances, colognes, or perfumes are prohibited to respect others in the classroom and patients in the clinical year.
  • Piercings and tattoos: as students move into the clinical environment, visible body piercing, other than pierced ears, and visible tattoos are generally inappropriate. Students must comply with clinical site policies for body piercings and tattoos.

CASUAL FRIDAY ATTIRE
The following casual attire is permitted only on Fridays unless directed otherwise by a faculty member.

  • Jeans
  • GWU spirit sweatshirts
  • T-shirts – GWU Spirit wear is encouraged.

GWU PA Studies faculty reserve the right to ask a student who is inappropriately dressed to

  • Leave the classroom or clinical site, earning a zero on an assessment or an absence.
  • Meet with the instructor, course director, didactic director, or ADD/DD to discuss dress policy adherence further.

Policy on Clinical Year Standards of Dress & Appearance is in Part VII, Section 13.